How to give Hunut and Kafan. (Shrouding the Mayyit)

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Kafan All the pieces of cloth are pre-arranged properly and systematically in their laid down sequence and kept ready on the table or a mat on the floor, so as to facilitate the shrouding when the body is laid on them for Tahnit and Kafan.

Please note: if any part of the kafan becomes najis (anytime up to the time of burial), the najasat must be removed either by washing the najis part of the shroud, or cutting out the najis part or replacing the entire piece.

It is recommended that the cloth for “Kafan” is white, made of cotton and not so thin to show the body of the deceased. If the three wajib pieces do NOT fully conceal the body, it will become wajib to have extra pieces (eg: an extra chaddar) to ensure that the body is properly concealed.

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Sequence of laying the Kafan after the individual pieces have been cut: Starting from top to the bottom (in sequence) so that the cotton pad is placed uppermost.

Female Kafan layout sequence

Male Kafan layout sequence

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Belts (upper, mid, lower) Extra Chaddar Chaddar Scarf or Head cover Tunic / Khanzu Lungi / Loin cloth (waist cloth) (a) Naaaz belt with (b) Naaaz /Pajama Pad / Diaper with pad belt (private part cover) 9. Seenaband (chest covering) 10. First place the belts (#1) on the table. This is the bottom most (outer most). Then place the rest of the pieces of the kafan one above another in this order: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. 11. Extra Belts-1 and 2 are used if you run short in length with Pad belt or Middle belt or Naaaz belt.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Belts (upper, mid, lower) Extra Chaddar Chaddar Amama or Head Cover Tunic / Khanzu Lungi / Loin cloth (thigh cloth) (a) Naaaz belt with (b) Naaaz /Pajama Pad / Diaper with pad belt (private part cover)

9. First place the belts (#1) on the table. This is the bottom most (outer most). Then place the rest of the pieces of the kafan one above another in this order: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. 10. Extra Belts-1 and 2 are used if you run short in length with Pad belt or Middle belt or Naaaz belt.

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Tahnit (to give Hunut)

Application of Camphor powder to specific parts of the body. Tahnit / Hunut is a wajib act performed after ghusal. It is recommended to perform before shrouding the body with kafan. However there is no objection in giving Hunut during the course of shrouding. This involves applying fresh fragrant camphor powder on seven parts of the body which rest on the ground when prostrating (during sajdah). These are the forehead, both palms of the hands, both knees and both big toes. It is not necessary to rub the camphor; it must be seen on these parts. It is Mustahab to apply camphor on the tip of the nose. Camphor must be powdered and fresh, not stale. It should not have lost its fragrance. It is mustahab to mix a small quantity of Turbah (soil from the land around the shrine of Imam Husein(a)) with camphor for Hunut. However the quantity of Turbah should be less than camphor and this mixture (Turbah and camphor) can only be applied to the forehead. Camphor only should be applied to the other 6 parts. It is wajib to do Niyyat for Hunut –“I am doing tanit/hunut on this dead body Wajib Qurbatan Ilallah.” Hunut must be started with forehead. It is not necessary to observe sequence while applying to other 6 parts of the body. .

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Shrouding (wrapping) the Kafan for Female: Once the kafan has been laid, the wrapping should begin from inside out, in the following sequence: (always wrap the right side over the body before the left side) 1. Brief/Pad/Diaper (Mustahab): The brief is a pad made of cotton wool with a little camphor spread over it and wrap with cotton cloth and with the pad belt to hold in place. We may use adult diaper here and wrap with cotton cloth and with a pad belt to hold in place.

2. The Seenaband / Upper Chest cover (Mustahab): The chest cover is a piece of cloth wrapped around the chest so as to cover the entire chest. The length should cover about 5” above and below the bust of the female body.

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3. The Naaaz / Pajama (Mustahab): This is a piece of cloth that covers the body from the waist to the feet and is held with the Naaaz belt, tied at the waist. If you find that the Naaaz belt is short, you may join the “Extra Belt-1” with a knot. The leg portion is cut and is wrapped around each leg. For the left leg the wrapping is in a clockwise form. For the right leg it is wrapped in anti-clock wise.

4. Lungi / Loin cloth covering waist to ankles (Wajib). The Lungi is a wajib piece that should wrap around the body from the waist to the knees. It is better if it is wraps from the chest to the ankles.

5. Khanzu / Tunic (Wajib): Tunic is a wajib piece that covers the body from the shoulder to the calf. It is better if it covers to the ankles. Ensure that the cut-out for the head is large enough for the head to pass thru.

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6. Head cover (Mustahab): The head cover is a piece of cloth which serves as a scarf and covers the head and neck of the body. If necessary you may have to tie an extra piece (approx 2” width) around the forehead to keep the hair from moving under the head scarf.

7. Jareeda (fresh twigs (without leaves) cut from a tree) (Mustahab): This is Mustahab. The twigs should be of arms length. Wrap it round with soft cotton wool. The twig on the right side should be touching the chest and just below the collar bone. The one on the left hand side should be kept just below the collar bone, between the khanzu and chaddar. The Chaddar is then wrapped around the body

8. Chaddar (Wajib): This is to be wrapped around the entire body. If the “extra chaddar” is not used as it is mustahab, then this Chaddar is tied at the top, bottom and middle of the body with strip belts of cloth. The knot should not be too tight as one needs to open them after the body is placed in the grave. If you find that the Middle belt is short, you may join the “Extra Belt-2” with a knot.

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9. Extra Chaddar (Mustahab): Extra Chaddar is a piece that covers the whole of the shroud including the original Chaddar. It is then tied at the top, bottom and middle of the body with belts.. The knot should not be too tight as one needs to open them when the body is placed in the grave. Please note: If the original chaddar is too thin and you can see the body through it, it becomes wajib to have the extra chaddar.

Quite often people use “Burde Yamani” as their “extra chaddar”. Some of them have Quran ayats written on it. Make sure that the ‘ayats are written on the part that covers the top half of the body.

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Shrouding (wrapping) the Kafan for Male: Once the kafan has been laid, the wrapping should begin from inside out, in the following sequence:

1. Brief/Pad/Diaper (Mustahab): The brief is a pad made of cotton wool with a little camphor spread over it and wrap with cotton cloth and tied with pad belt to hold in place. We may use adult diaper with self adhesive tape. Make sure to sprinkle some camphor inside the diaper.

2. The Naaaz / Pajama (Mustahab): This is a piece of cloth that covers the body from the waist to the feet and is held with the Naaaz belt tied at the waist. If you find that the Naaaz belt is short, you may join the “Extra Belt-1” with a knot. The leg portion is cut and is wrapped around each leg. For the left leg the wrapping is in a clockwise form. For the right leg it is wrapped in anti-clock wise.

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3. Lungi (Loin cloth ) (Wajib). The Lungi is a wajib piece that should wrap around the body from the navel to the knees It is better if it wraps from the chest to the ankles.

4. Tunic / Khanzu (Wajib): Tunic is a wajib piece that covers the body from the shoulder to the calf. It is better if it covers to the ankles. Ensure that the cut-out for the head is large enough for the head to pass through. Also have the tunic in the ‘open’ position.

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5. Head cover - Turban (Mustahab): The head cover is a piece of cloth that is wrapped around the head once with the two ends placed on the chest..

6. Jareeda (fresh twigs (without leaves) cut from a tree) (Mustahab): The twigs should be of arms length. Wrap it round with soft cotton wool. The twig on the right side should be touching the chest and just below the collar bone. The one on the left hand side should be kept just below the collar bone, between the khanzu and chaddar. The Chaddar is then wrapped around the body

7. Chaddar (Wajib): This is to be wrapped around the entire body. If the “extra chaddar” is not used then it is tied at the top, bottom and middle of the body with the ‘belts’. If you find that the Middle belt is short, you may join the “Extra Belt-2” with a knot.

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8. Extra Chaddar (Mustahab): Extra Chaddar is a piece that covers the whole of the shroud including the original Chaddar. It is then tied at the top, bottom and middle of the body with belts (strips of cloth). Please note: If the original Chaddar is too thin and you can see the body through it, it becomes wajib to have the extra Chaddar. Quite often people use “Burde Yamani” as their “extra Chaddar”. Some of them have Quran ayats written on it. Make sure that the ayats are written on the part that covers the top half of the body.

Thanks to the following websites/books/ individuals for their selected references: • • •

Crossing the Bridge – by Ma’alim Muhammadhusein Kermali Funeral Services Committee – Islamic AhlulBayt Association; Austin, Texas. Shia Muslim Community of B.C., Canada.

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